140 seniors evacuated after breakfast fire

Flash from propane tank injures chef at Northampton center.

Fire forced 140 senior citizens from the Sacred Heart Assisted Living Center in Northampton and injured a chef who was making them breakfast Sunday morning.

A flash from a propane tank used in the three-story senior center dining room injured Brian Fuss and forced staff to evacuate the building for more than an hour.

Fuss, 43, of Northampton was listed in guarded condition at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, according to a hospital official Sunday.

The accident halted what was supposed to be a special annual breakfast for residents and their families, but there was little damage to the dining hall and no injuries to the residents.

"We were in line and a big puff of smoke went up in the air," said Margherita Mueller, using a walker as she re-entered the building. "It's a shame because the menu looked great -- everything from eggs to chicken cordon bleu."

According to fire and Sacred Heart officials, residents were waiting in line about 9 a.m. for the first Because We Love Our Residents Breakfast when a ball of fire flashed from a propane tank connected to a stove on which omelettes were made. The burst of fire burned Fuss and set off the sprinkler system, Sacred Heart Assisted Living Center manager and part-owner Randall Weston said.

The fire did not ignite any other part of the room and was out before Northampton and Allen Township fire crews arrived a few minutes later, said Northampton Fire Chief Bob Baer.

But administrators weren't taking chances, so they walked, wheeled and escorted all residents into the parking lot.

A second worker, Susan Hartman, suffered a minor burn to her hand but did not seek medical treatment.

It came 90 minutes late, but breakfast was served, including eggs and cordon bleu, but without omelettes.

Weston said the mishap will not keep Sacred Heart from holding the breakfast again.

"We'll keep doing it, but I think we'll go back to using good old-fashioned skillets," Weston said. "No more propane tanks."